Liacouras Center

The Liacouras Center
"The Apollo", "The Pete"
Former names	The Apollo of Temple (1997–2000)
Address	1776 North Broad Street
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates	39°58′47″N 75°9′31″W / 39.97972°N 75.15861°W
Public transit	Broad Street Line Cecil B. Moore; SEPTA bus: 3, 4, 16
Owner	Temple University
Operator	Global Spectrum
Capacity	10,206 Basketball; 9,000 Ice Hockey
Construction
Broke ground	January 25, 1996
Opened	November 11, 1997
Construction cost	$73 million
Architect	Vitetta Group; Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates
General contractor	LF Driscoll
Tenants
	Temple Owls (NCAA) (1997–present); Philly Roller Derby (WFTDA) (2005–present); Philadelphia KiXX (MISL) (2009–2010)
Website
	liacourascenter.com

The Liacouras Center^[3] is a 10,206-seat multi-purpose venue which opened in 1997 and was originally named "The Apollo of Temple". The arena was renamed in 2000 for Temple University President, Peter J. Liacouras. It is part of a $107 million, four-building complex along North Broad Street on the Temple University campus in North Philadelphia. The Liacouras Center is the largest indoor, public assembly venue in Philadelphia north of City Hall.

History

During the 1980s, Temple basketball coach John Chaney sought to raise the profile of the men's basketball program through aggressively scheduling top-tier, out of conference opponents. Some programs, however, scoffed at the idea of playing at Temple's 3,900-seat on-campus arena, McGonigle Hall. Temple's President at the time, Peter J. Liacouras, supported the idea of a larger basketball facility in hopes of building Temple's national presence. Temple considered several locations and a site was purchased in 1988 for $7.3 million.^[4] The state of Pennsylvania awarded Temple $31.1 million in October 1992, despite disagreements between Chaney and then-City Council president John Street.

The project was approved in 1995, with a January 25, 1996 groundbreaking.^[5] Two nationally recognized architectural firms designed the building: Vitetta Group^[6] of Philadelphia, and Thompson Ventulett Stainback & Associates of Atlanta. The 340,000 sq ft (32,000 m²) venue opened in the 1997-98 season.^[7] The first game played was a 76-61 Temple win over Fresno State.

The venue was originally named The Apollo of Temple. The name changed to the Liacouras Center just prior to Liacouras' retirement on February 13, 2000.^[1]

The Liacouras Center is managed by Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor. The Liacouras Center is Philadelphia's largest indoor venue north of City Hall and hosts home games for all of Temple men's basketball, along with some women's games. As of the end of the 2016-17 season, the Owls have amassed a 206-69 record in the building. The Esther Boyer Theater at the Liacouras Center is a small theater setup of 1,000 to 5,000 seats for more intimate presentations. The complex also houses the Independence Blue Cross Recreation Center (IBC), which includes a gym, basketball court, racquetball courts, and more. The IBC opened in the spring semester of 1998.^[8] The fourth building in the complex is a 1,200-space parking garage.

Use beyond basketball

Besides hosting Temple basketball games, the Liacouras Center is a full entertainment arena featuring concerts, family shows, Philadelphia KiXX games, Philly Roller Derby bouts, dramatic presentations, and family shows. Additionally, several high school graduations, as well as university graduations and convocation ceremonies, are held there.

Professional wrestling

On October 16, 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) held its third televised professional wrestling event at the Liacouras Center, broadcast on the TNT network in the United States.^[9] AEW returned to the Liacouras Center for its second anniversary show on October 6, 2021.^[10]

On April 5, 2024, Ring of Honor (ROH - the sister promotion of AEW), promoted its Supercard of Honor event at the Liacouras Center.

Pandemic era hospital

In March 2020, the Liacouras Center was transformed into a field hospital with 200 beds arranged on the court in anticipation of a surge in need during the onset of COVID-19 pandemic and shortages in city hospitals.^[11] At the end of April 2020, operations of the field hospital began winding down as the rate of new COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia began to decline.^[12]

Past events

Music

Rap - Hip-hop

50 Cent
Fat Joe
Fetty Wap
Bow Wow and Omarion
Kid Cudi
Method Man & Redman
Kanye West
Wale
Wiz Khalifa
Big Sean
Super Jam 2010, featuring Trey Songz and Ludacris
T.I.
Nelly
Ludacris (October 2014)
A$AP Rocky
Playboi Carti
A Boogie wit da Hoodie

Rock - Pop

R&B

Country

LeAnn Rimes
Carrie Underwood with Little Big Town

Entertainment

Politics/Government

Barack Obama (November 2, 2014)
Bernie Sanders (April 6, 2016)
Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Josh Shapiro, and John Fetterman (November 5, 2022)
Donald Trump (June 22, 2024)
Kamala Harris (August 6, 2024, to introduce Tim Walz as Vice-Presidential nominee)

Sports

Bernard Hopkins vs. Enrique Ornelas (December 2009)
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament (2004; Opening Round)
TNA Wrestling: Lockdown (2009)
TNA Wrestling: Bound for Glory (2011)
The Harlem Globetrotters
U.S. Gymnastics Championships (2001)
USA Gymnastics American Cup^[13]
Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing
David Reid Boxing
Philadelphia 76ers Exhibition Game
2017 International WFTDA Championships (roller derby)^[14]
AEW's Dynamite (October 16, 2019)
AEW's Dynamite Special Episode: 2 Year Anniversary (October 6, 2021)
AEW's Dynamite and Rampage (October 25, 2023)
ROH's Supercard of Honor (April 5, 2024)

References

^ ^a ^b "Arena Info | The Liacouras Center | The Liacouras Center". www.liacourascenter.com. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
^ "Northstar Fire Protection - Stadiums and Arenas". Nsfire.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
^ "Sports and Cultural Events in Downtown Philadelphia". The Liacouras Center. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
^ "Arena turns 10 years old - The Temple News". The Temple News. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
^ "The arena which brought students - The Temple News". The Temple News. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
^ "Architecture Engineering Planning Interior Design". Vitetta. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
^ "Sparse Temple crowds nothing to cheer about". Philly.com. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
^ "Independence Blue Cross Student Rec Center (IBC) | Campus Recreation". campusrecreation.temple.edu. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
^ "AEW announces locations for second & third TV tapings". August 6, 2019.
^ Barrasso, Justin. "Tony Khan Reflects on Second Anniversary of 'Dynamite'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
^ Whelan, Aubrey (March 30, 2020). "How Temple's Liacouras Center was transformed into a hospital site amid coronavirus pandemic". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
^ McDaniel, Justine; Verma, Pranshu; McCrystal, Laura (April 30, 2020). "Philly to wind down spare hospital as cases decline; New Jersey allows parks to reopen". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
^ "Welcome to tysonamericancup.com!". Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
^ Larrison, Brad (November 6, 2017). "Philly hosts women's roller derby championships". WHYY-FM. Retrieved January 4, 2018.

External links

Official website

[Arena_Info-1] "Arena Info | The Liacouras Center | The Liacouras Center". www.liacourascenter.com. Retrieved March 13, 2017.

[2] "Northstar Fire Protection - Stadiums and Arenas". Nsfire.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.

[3] "Sports and Cultural Events in Downtown Philadelphia". The Liacouras Center. Retrieved July 9, 2012.

[4] "Arena turns 10 years old - The Temple News". The Temple News. Retrieved March 13, 2017.

[5] "The arena which brought students - The Temple News". The Temple News. Retrieved March 13, 2017.

[6] "Architecture Engineering Planning Interior Design". Vitetta. Retrieved July 9, 2012.

[7] "Sparse Temple crowds nothing to cheer about". Philly.com. Retrieved March 13, 2017.

[8] "Independence Blue Cross Student Rec Center (IBC) | Campus Recreation". campusrecreation.temple.edu. Retrieved March 13, 2017.

[9] "AEW announces locations for second & third TV tapings". August 6, 2019.

[10] Barrasso, Justin. "Tony Khan Reflects on Second Anniversary of 'Dynamite'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 18, 2021.

[11] Whelan, Aubrey (March 30, 2020). "How Temple's Liacouras Center was transformed into a hospital site amid coronavirus pandemic". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 30, 2020.

[12] McDaniel, Justine; Verma, Pranshu; McCrystal, Laura (April 30, 2020). "Philly to wind down spare hospital as cases decline; New Jersey allows parks to reopen". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

[tysonamericancup-13] "Welcome to tysonamericancup.com!". Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2014.

[14] Larrison, Brad (November 6, 2017). "Philly hosts women's roller derby championships". WHYY-FM. Retrieved January 4, 2018.

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v t e Temple University
Located in: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Campuses	Main Campus (location) Ambler Campus Japan Campus Rome Campus
Schools	Beasley School of Law Boyer College of Music and Dance Fox School of Business and Management Tyler School of Art Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry School of Medicine School of Podiatric Medicine School of Pharmacy College of Science and Technology
Athletics	Temple Owls Football Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's soccer St. Joe's – Temple rivalry Liacouras Center McGonigle Hall Temple Stadium Veterans Stadium Lincoln Financial Field Erny Field Skip Wilson Field
People	Alumni and faculty Graduate Students Association
Miscellaneous	2023 strike Temple Health Temple University station Cecil B. Moore station The Temple News Temple University Press TECH Center WRTI
Founded: 1884 Students: 39,515 Endowment: 873 million

v t e Temple Owls men's basketball
Venues	Mitten Hall South Hall Convention Hall (1938–1955) Palestra (1955–1984) McGonigle Hall (1969–1997) Liacouras Center (1997–present)
Culture & lore	City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 Big 5 Classic Robert V. Geasey Trophy
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Helms and Premo-Porretta national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e Temple Owls women's basketball
Venues	Convention Hall (1938–1955) ? (1955–1969) McGonigle Hall (1969–present) Liacouras Center (1997–present)
Rivalries	Saint Joseph's
Culture & lore	City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 Big 5 Classic
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Philadelphia Big 5
Schools	Drexel University La Salle University University of Pennsylvania Saint Joseph's University Temple University Villanova University
Teams	Drexel Dragons men's women's La Salle Explorers men's women's Penn Quakers men's women's Saint Joseph's Hawks men's women's Temple Owls men's women's Villanova Wildcats men's women's
Arenas	Daskalakis Athletic Center Drexel Finneran Pavilion Villanova women's Big 5 Classic Hagan Arena Saint Joseph's John Glaser Arena La Salle Liacouras Center Temple Palestra Penn Wells Fargo Center men's Big 5 Classic
Competitions	Big 5 Classic
Related	City 6 Holy War Robert V. Geasey Trophy Battle of 33rd Street